Macclesfield 0-1 Brentford — Own goal decides FA Cup tie
Brentford survived a scare at Moss Rose, scraping past National League North side Macclesfield 1-0 in the FA Cup fourth round on Wednesday evening (ET) after a second-half own goal. The non-league hosts continued to punch above their weight but were undone by an unfortunate deflection that sent the Premier League side into the fifth round.
Heathcote own goal settles tight contest
The decisive moment arrived in the 70th minute when an Aaron Hickey delivery from the left caused panic in the home box. Sam Heathcote attempted to intercept but instead glanced the ball past his own goalkeeper, giving Brentford the slender lead. The goal proved enough for the visitors, who had worn down Macclesfield with sustained pressure after a largely even opening 45 minutes.
Before the breakthrough, Macclesfield had dominated the first half and fashioned the better openings. John Rooney’s part-time side arrived buoyed by last month's shock victory over the FA Cup holders and matched a much-changed Brentford for intensity and invention in the opening exchanges. Paul Dawson, captain of Macclesfield, came close with a header and tested the nerves of the visiting side on several occasions.
Brentford’s starting XI included multiple changes and initially lacked cohesion, with the visitors struggling to find rhythm on a pitch that was unfamiliar to their regular training surfaces. The Premier League side steadily improved after the interval, stringing together corners and crosses that eventually produced the match-winning moment.
Macclesfield’s memorable run comes to an end
Though the result marked the end of Macclesfield’s FA Cup adventure, the club leaves with its reputation significantly enhanced. The run that began back in September with a win over Atherton LR and peaked with a stunning cup victory over the previous holders captured national attention and won the club a legion of new supporters.
Captain Paul Dawson was defiant in defeat, praising his players’ effort and the special nature of the cup run. He said he was proud of the players and the whole town for what they had achieved, calling the experience of testing themselves against Premier League opposition ‘unbelievable’ and insisting the run would live long in the memory of the club.
For Macclesfield, the performance offered plenty of positives. They matched a top-flight side for large spells, pressed aggressively, and created opportunities that could easily have swung the tie in their favour on a different night. The narrow nature of the loss will do little to dampen the pride felt across the club and among traveling fans.
Reactions, repercussions and what’s next
Brentford manager Keith Andrews highlighted the challenge posed by the fixture and praised his team for improving after half-time. He acknowledged the difficulty of playing on a surface unlike those his squad train on regularly, but stressed the fundamentals improved in the second half and helped his side edge through.
John Rooney, present in the dressing room after the game, commended the gesture of Brentford’s boss in addressing the Macclesfield players following the defeat. The fellowship shown in the immediate aftermath underlined the goodwill generated by cup ties and the mutual respect between the sides.
Brentford will travel to a London rival in the fifth round, while Macclesfield will regroup and look to build on the momentum their cup run has given the club. For the neutral, the match was a reminder of the FA Cup’s enduring appeal: the small club, the fevered atmosphere, and the fine margins that decide football’s great knockout competition.
